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July 16, 2024
 

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Philip Brasor
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 12, 2016
Poverty coverage reinforces prejudice
In the middle of August, NHK ran a feature on its evening news show about a high school girl as part of its coverage of child poverty. The girl's name and face were revealed in the report, which described how her educational future was at risk because of her financial situation. In one scene, she was...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Nov 12, 2016
Japan's laundromat bubble shows no sign of bursting
Almost every Japanese household has a washing machine, so why are so many of them using laundromats that cost them extra money?
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / HOME TRUTHS
Nov 5, 2016
Earthquake standards are on shaky ground
No one died in the recent earthquake that struck Tottori Prefecture, but the temblor was strong enough to cause extensive damage. Several thousand people are still in evacuation centers, which means it is not safe for them to live in their homes. Most of these houses were probably built before the latest...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 5, 2016
Japan's war against medical marijuana
Former actress Saya Takagi was arrested in Okinawa on Oct. 25 for possession of marijuana, three months after she unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the Upper House election on a platform to legalize pot for medical purposes. She insists the contraband was not hers.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 3, 2016
Holocaust comedy snares grand prize at 29th Tokyo International Film Festival
Philippine trans people, Scandinavian reindeer herders and a romantic comedy about the Holocaust dominated the closing ceremony of the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival on Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Oct 29, 2016
SDF activity in South Sudan is sidestepping security debate
Governments are adept at using indirection and euphemism, and right now Japan's is struggling with an issue whose terminology is exacerbating that struggle.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Oct 25, 2016
Stars come out for Tokyo film festival opening
The 29th Tokyo International Film Festival marked its opening Tuesday afternoon with a traditional red carpet ceremony that was heavy on Asian stars and filmmakers.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Oct 22, 2016
Taiji's dolphin hunters have a new voice
It's not often a documentary is made in response to another documentary, but this year two movies have addressed the 2009 Oscar-winning documentary "The Cove," which was about the capture and killing of wild dolphins in Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture. First-time filmmaker Keiko Yagi's "Behind the Cove" came...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Oct 22, 2016
Shocking blog post forces debate on the financial drain of dialysis in Japan
About 0.25 percent of the population requires dialysis, but this group is responsible for one-30th of the country's medical costs.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Oct 15, 2016
Is the end near for Earth's biggest fish market?
...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 13, 2016
Despite controversy, the Busan International Film Festival is as strong as ever
The 21st edition of Asia's biggest movie event, the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), which took place from Oct. 6 to 15, almost didn't happen; or, at least, that's the story being told. Actually, considering how important the festival is for South Korea's movie industry, one of the most vital...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Oct 8, 2016
Nagoya: The most boring city in Japan
At a meeting of city leaders last Monday, the mayor of Nagoya, Takashi Kawamura, expressed annoyance with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. That same day, Abe had opened a new session of the Diet by touching on the issue of regional revitalization in his usual general policy speech; he said that the central...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Oct 8, 2016
New pension ceiling meant to help low-paid workers may hit housewives
A lowering of the eligibility cap for the ku014dsei nenkin pension plan leaves housewives working part-time with a choice: cut their hours to stay below the new ceiling or work more to offset the pension payments they will now have to make.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Oct 1, 2016
There's nothing weird about 'sexless' Japan
Japan has somehow earned a reputation as a "sexless" country — a place where men and women have lost their libidos. The reasons given are various but mainly have to do with increased introversion and general loss of sociability among young people.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / HOME TRUTHS
Oct 1, 2016
Tokyo faces declining condominium prices
In Japan's housing market, there has always been one verity: Certain parts of Tokyo will always be popular and, therefore, profitable for developers. However, according to various media reports, that verity may have collapsed, at least when it comes to new condominiums.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Sep 24, 2016
The ascendancy of a Japanese maestro
In the past few months, the media has been pleasantly surprised at the sudden ascendancy of some noteworthy Japanese women, mainly in the realm of politics. Since pianist Hiroko Nakamura passed away in July, the media has been filled with obituaries that paid tribute to her own powerful position in Japan's...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Sep 24, 2016
Without concerted effort from Japan's industry players, online scalping looks unstoppable
Until all the various players in the industry work together for a solution, internet concert ticket resellers will continue doing a roaring trade.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Sep 17, 2016
Renho and the 'pure blood' mythos
Despite the best efforts of certain individuals on Twitter, lawmaker Renho became the head of the Democratic Party last Thursday. Of course, those loosely linked online individuals that are sometimes referred to as netto uyo (internet right-wingers) don't really care about the DP, but they were undoubtedly...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Sep 10, 2016
In Japanese showbiz, the sins of the son visit the mother
Veteran actress Atsuko Takahata called a press conference on Aug. 26 to apologize for the actions of her 22-year-old son, who had been arrested several days earlier for sexually assaulting a hotel employee in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, while on location for an acting job. Some media observers mentioned...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Sep 10, 2016
Pricing system offers scant protection as Amazon Japan hacks away at bookstores' benefits
Japan's saihan seido system may not be enough to save the country's remaining bookstores, whose advantages Amazon.jp has systematically worked to nullify over the years.
Who needs AI when you have Hatsune Miku?
Over the first six months of 2024, a handful of songs using Vocaloid singer Hatsune Miku’s voice have enjoyed widespread attention, underlining a global interest in the character and the technology she represents.
Bloodied Trump survives assassination attempt at political rally
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is surrounded and evacuated by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Trump was rushed off stage at the rally after shots rang out.
Shooter came within inches of killing Trump, but left few clues as to why
An aerial view shows the stage where Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump had been standing during an assassination attempt the day before, and the roof of a nearby building where a gunman was shot dead by law enforcement, in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.
Yen’s woes seem too big for even a BOJ hike this month to solve
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
After Trump shooting, U.S. presidential race might take a violent turn
United States Secret Service Counter Snipers stand guard on a rooftop during a campaign rally for U.S. President Donald Trump in Avoca, Pennsylvania, in 2020.
No AC this summer? No problem (for me).
Think air conditioning is a requirement for a Tokyo summer? Think again.
She’s paying ¥1 million to help behind the scenes at the Paris Olympics
Mai Tarumi, who previously volunteered at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has a travel budget of ¥1 million for her trip to volunteer at the Paris Games.

Podcast

You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival.
Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one

Longform

Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
By Tomoko Otake

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